KAHL Kahala Corporation (GM)

Kahala Corp (Pink Sheets: KAHL), a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based franchisor of eight quick service restaurant concepts totaling more than 1,000 locations and $450 million in systemwide sales, announced today that it has entered into a new area representative agreement with Sean McCann of Castle Technologies Ltd. to open 20 Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill restaurants throughout New York's Nassau and Suffolk Counties within the next 10 years. This announcement was made by Kevin Blackwell, chairman and chief executive officer of Kahala Corp, which owns and operates Great Steak & Potato Co., TacoTime, Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill, RANCH ONE Grilled Chicken, Frullati Cafe & Bakery, Rollerz, Wafflo, and Surf City Squeeze. A resident of Patchogue, Long Island, McCann was first introduced to Samurai Sam's Japanese-style cuisine when he was a college student studying at Arizona State University in the late 1990s. He quickly became a loyal customer at a nearby Samurai Sam's, and always believed that the restaurant's quick and healthy concept would do extremely well in his native Long Island. At the present time, the only other Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill location in the whole state of New York is in Brooklyn. Now, along with the help and determination of his two business partners -- his wife Shannon McCann and their friend, Heather Nesenger -- this team of three will be turning McCann's idea into a reality. "My partners and I are very excited to introduce Samurai Sam's to the residents of Long Island," said Sean McCann. "The idea of offering a quick and healthy restaurant concept like Samurai Sam's will be a very welcome and refreshing change to the Long Island consumer. The people of Long Island are tired of the same old tastes and ideas, and Samurai Sam's represents a unique, 'out of the box' concept that when introduced to the Long Island market is just going to explode!" Famous for its delicious Teriyaki Chicken Bowls, Teriyaki Steak Bowls, Teriyaki Wrap sandwiches, Yaki Soba noodle dishes, salads, and Grilled Egg Rolls, Samurai Sam's prides itself on being a great-tasting, healthier alternative in the world of traditional fast food. Entrepreneur Magazine named Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill the No. 1 Asian Fast Food concept in their 2003 Franchise 500 Edition. McCann graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Computer Science in 2000 and is currently working as a principal consultant for Computer Associates International in Islandia, N.Y. Shannon McCann graduated from Long Island University with a B.S. in education in 2003, and since then has managed a local seasonal restaurant and has worked in the fitness industry. Nesenger graduated from Dowling College in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration. She will be bringing management and accounting experience to their new Samurai Sam's Long Island locations. The Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill franchise network was founded in Scottsdale, Ariz., in 1994, and has since expanded to 87 Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill franchises across the United States. To learn more about Kahala Corp and its eight restaurant concepts, please visit the company Web site at www.kahalacorp.com.